Seattle-Based AssureStart Expands Small Business Insurance Sales to
Colorado, Missouri and Oregon; Service Footprint Nearly Doubles

June 23, 2014 12:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AssureStart,
the Seattle-based technology startup that sells general liability and
property insurance to small businesses on the Internet, has expanded its
service footprint to include Colorado, Missouri and Oregon. This brings
to seven the number of states where AssureStart currently offers small
business insurance coverage.

Formed in February 2013, AssureStart launched service in its first
state, Texas, nine months later. Washington, Maryland and Pennsylvania
came online in February 2014.

“With our recent rollout in Colorado, Missouri and Oregon, we are on a
trajectory to cover 70 percent of the U.S. by the end of this year, and
complete our national footprint by mid-2015,” said Mike LaRocco,
AssureStart president and CEO. “Our online technology platform is
scalable and can be updated quickly as we receive new state regulatory
approvals.”

AssureStart is exclusively focused on serving the insurance needs of
small businesses with one to 30 employees. By answering a few questions
at www.assurestart.com,
qualified small businesses can get coverage recommendations and rate
quotes, purchase a business owner’s policy and download
the policy and a certificate of insurance – all in less than 10 minutes.
(A business owner’s policy combines general liability and business
property insurance in a single contract.) With AssureStart’s efficient
direct sales process, the company is able to pass along savings in the
form of lower rates.

Small business owners traditionally have had to purchase their insurance
through commercial insurance agents, who tend to focus on complex
coverages for larger businesses and use an application process that can
take several days or longer to complete. Given the relatively low
premium amounts associated with their coverage requirements, businesses
with fewer than 30 employees represent an underserved segment of the
commercial insurance market.

AssureStart was created with these small businesses in mind. The
company’s all-new, online platform is accessible 24/7 from a tablet,
computer or smartphone. In a matter of minutes, the website can issue a
policy and provide all supporting insurance documents in a .pdf format.
This is especially helpful for new businesses that need to show proof of
insurance before starting work for a client. Licensed agents are
available by phone, email or web chat to answer questions at any point
in the application and purchase process.

“The feedback we’ve received from customers validates our premise that
small businesses want a streamlined insurance-buying experience that
they can manage on their own,” said LaRocco. “They praise both the
simplicity of our website and the affordability of our rates.”

AssureStart is backed by the financial strength of American Family
Mutual Insurance Company, rated ‘A’ (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Policies
are underwritten by Midvale Indemnity Company, an affiliate of American
Family.

Over time, AssureStart intends to expand its product suite to include
commercial auto and workers’ compensation insurance.

About AssureStart

Headquartered in Seattle’s Pioneer Square district, AssureStart is
dedicated to serving the insurance needs of small businesses with one to
30 employees. The company sells business owner’s policies (general
liability and business property insurance coverage) direct to small
businesses via its website, www.assurestart.com.
The website features a proprietary, easy-to-use recommendation engine
and the ability to bind coverage online and download a policy and
certificate of insurance at the point of sale. AssureStart serves as the
managing general agent for policies underwritten by Midvale Indemnity
Company, an affiliate of Madison, Wis.-based American Family Insurance.
Web: www.assurestart.com;
Facebook: www.facebook.com/assurestart;
Twitter: www.twitter.com/assurestart.